If you had to choose the factors that make a place interesting to travel to, what would you pick? Let us guess: rich culture, beautiful landscapes, great food and a…
If you had to choose the factors that make a place interesting to travel to, what would you pick? Let us guess: rich culture, beautiful landscapes, great food and a couple more. If we guessed right, listen to our advice and put Greece on your travel destination list.
This Mediterranean gem has everything you could possibly want from a travel experience. One of those things is the food, which manages to be healthy and incredibly tasty at the same time.
Once you try the entrees and main courses, make sure you leave room for dessert. Whatever you choose, you won’t go wrong. Greek desserts are famous for being so tasty, you’ll come back to Greece just to have some more!
Here’s a list of some of the most delicious ones you should try. The unique specialties vary from street food classics to restaurant delicacies. If you’re hungry, proceed with caution!
Traditional Greek Desserts You Have To Try
Greek Kataifi
At first glance, this might remind you of thin ramen noodles. But, we promise, kataifi is so much better than that and it won’t disappoint you!
This unique dessert is made with a specific shredded dough and then topped with an aromatic syrup. You will recognize lemony notes and cinnamon in the syrup and the fresh butter on top of the dough.
The center is filled with finely chopped nuts – either almonds and walnuts or pistachios. It’s perfect if you’re in the mood for something crunchy and sweet!
Greek Kataifi is a perfect representation of typical Greek desserts. It is rich and very sweet, but, most of all, unlike anything you’ve ever tried before!
Bougatsa
If you ask any Greek man or woman what’s the best breakfast food, they will recommend bougatsa. This flaky pastry is a real Greek treasure and it can be found pretty much everywhere you go!
Whether you like a sweet or savory breakfast, bougatsa is a perfect option. But the sweet one is more famous and, in our opinion, much more flavorful. Have in mind that you don’t have to eat it for breakfast only, but as a dessert as well!
It is made of thin phyllo dough which is filled with rich, creamy custard. The heavenly aroma also comes from the cinnamon, which is traditionally sprinkled on top. Make sure you have it fresh and hot, so you could taste the butteriness!
Bougatsa is guaranteed to top your list of best sweet pastries and, possibly, best Greek desserts. Just think of it this way: being able to have dessert for breakfast is what life is all about!
Baklava
On some days, there’s just nothing better than an old-fashioned baklava. It exudes a certain warm and homey feeling, especially if it’s authentic. If you’d like to try one made from someone’s grandma’s recipe, you should definitely try it in Greece!
The basic version of this well-known dessert is made with layers of thin phyllo and filled with ground walnuts. It is then drenched in sugar syrup, which gets completely absorbed.
There are many different variations of it that you should try. Some include raisins along with walnuts, while others are made with ground pistachios. If you’re a lover of all nuts, you could try one with a combination of a few of them. Also, don’t miss the baklava with rose water!
In Greece, baklava is usually made for special occasions and events. But, isn’t being in Greece special enough? Tuck in!
Halva
Not to be confused with the Turkish sweet with the same name, Greek halva is a type of pudding. It’s traditionally made with semolina flour and only a couple more ingredients. If you’re vegan, you’ll be happy to know you can eat as much of this dessert as you wish!
If you’d like to try to make a Greek dessert at home, this is the one to start with. It is delicious, but also very simple to create.
Halva contains one of the best Greek products – olive oil. It is incredibly tasty but also rather healthy at the same time.
Sometimes, beauty really lies in simplicity. With only a few ingredients, halva is without a doubt one of the best traditional Greek desserts!
Melomakarona
Just like everywhere else in the world, the Greeks love celebrating holidays with traditional treats. That’s why every year for Christmas, Greek families make melomakarona – Greek Christmas cookies!
These wonderful, crunchy cookies are very refreshing and rich. Besides the usual Christmas ingredients like cinnamon or nutmeg, they also contain cognac and orange zest. Yum!
Even if you’re not in Greece during the holidays, you must try melomakarona. They’re a perfect treat alongside a cup of coffee or tea!
Loukoumades
Loukoumades are another street food classic. Everyone who grew up in Greece has memories of eating these during their childhood. If you’re a lover of doughnuts and fried food in general, don’t look any further!
You must try these little balls of dough, deep fried and dipped in honey or chocolate sauce. You can ask for some cinnamon or walnuts on top, for an extra bit of flavor!
Although nowadays these are commonly served on festivals and markets, they have been around long before those came to existence. Believe it or not, even ancient Greek writers mentioned them in their work!
While you’re in Greece, make sure you eat them as often as possible. You can find them on every corner, so try and find your favorite ones! Why not spoil yourself a bit?
Portokalopita (Orange cake)
If you’re looking for a perfect summer dessert, this is it. Portokalopita combines two things Greece is known for – Greek yogurt and fresh oranges.
Originally, this Greek dessert comes from the island of Crete, and only one bite will transport you there. This moist cake is, like many Greek desserts, finished with a soaking syrup and a bit of cinnamon.
When you bite into it, you’ll be overwhelmed with the creaminess of the yogurt and the crisp orange taste. The ingredients are combined flawlessly and are even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
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